Mendez Demolishes Salgado To Capture The IBF Crown

By Francisco Salazar

Coasta Mesa, California - Argenis Mendez (21-2, 11 KOs) got his revenge with a drilling knockout of Juan Carlos Salgado (26-2-1, 16 KOs) to capture the IBF super featherweight title. Mendez decked Salgado in the first, controlled the next two rounds and then finished him off with a wicked hook in the fourth. Mendez had promised to win by knockout after losing a controversial decision to Salgado in September of 2011.

Mendez, who had trainer Henry Ramirez in his corner, was able to drop Salgado in the first round with a counter right hand. Salgado was able to get up and did enough to survive the round. While Salgado threw more punches than Mendez during some exchanges, Mendez was able to land counter overhand right hands to the head of Salgado.

In the fourth round, Molina feinted Salgado with a right hand and followed with a counter left hook that landed to Salgado’s chin. Salgado dropped flat onto his back and laid there on the canvas while referee Wayne Hedgpeth immediately waved the fight over at 45 seconds.

“I came for the knockout” said a tearful Mendez after the fight. “This is very special and I worked hard for this.”

Asked what his future plans were, Mendez replied, “I can’t stay at 130 pounds anymore. I want to go up to 135 pounds and fight the Gamboas.”

Featherweight Ricky Funez had won one memorable professional debut, winning a hard-fought four round majority decision over Jose Garcia. Both had their moments early in the first half of the fight, as Funez initiated exchanges. Funez would drop his hands, allowing for Garcia countered repeatedly with right hands to the head. Funez was able to press the action in the last two rounds, pressing the attack as Garcia, who began bleeding from above his left eye. Undaunted, Garcia continuously landed to the head of Funez, even drawing blood from his nose. One judge scored the bout 38-38, while the other two judges scored the bout 39-37 in favor of Funez. Garcia's record of 1-6-1, 1 KO is not indicative of his skill set in the ring.

Opening the Goossen Tutor Promotions card, fringe contender Miguel "Micky" Roman won a workmanlike eight round unanimous decision over veteran Miguel Munguia. Roman (40-11, 29 KOs) was the more accurate fighter in what looked more a like glorified sparring session. Munguia (28-27-1, 24 KOs) landed an occasional overhand right hand to the head, but not enough to keep up with the busier Roman. All three judges scored the bout in favor of Roman, 79-73, 79-73, and 78-74.

2012 Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina stopped Willie Walton in the second round of a scheduled four round bout. Molina (2-0, 1 KO) landed the more telling blows in the first round while the southpaw Walton bobbed and weaved in an attempt to avoid being punches. Molina dropped Walton with a counter right cross moments into the second round. Walton stood up but was met with a barrage of punches, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to stop the bout at 35 seconds.

[QUOTE=BIGPOPPAPUMP;13126638]2012 Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina stopped Willie Walton in the second round of a scheduled four round bout. Molina (2-0, 1 KO) landed the more telling blows in the first round while the southpaw Walton bobbed and weaved in an…

Great job by Mendez! Salgado did not look like a professional boxer by any means; I'm sick of seeing these fools with their left hand down like they're slick or fast enough to evade that right hand!! He ate about…